Train detecting and reporting apparatus



Feb. 22, 1944. L ACE 2,342,314

TRAIN DETECTING AND REPORTING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1941 [7 170 Nil/lam. BY 0-.

HIS ATTOR N EY Patented Feb. 22, 1 944 TRAIN DETECTING AND REPORTING APPARATUS Herbert A. Wallace, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 5, 1941, Serial No. 396,731

6 Claims. ('01. 246-41) My invention relates to train detecting and reporting apparatus, and it has particular reference to the organization of such apparatus into novel and improved means for detecting and reporting the passage of a complete and intact train. More particularly, my invention relates to the provision of train detecting and reporting apparatus of the class adapted for use in connection with remote control or centralized traflic control systems applied to manual block or other non-track-circuited stretches of track for reporting trains at a remote ofilce or central station.

In manual block territories where continuous track circuits are not employed, the signalmen at the various block stations are required to observe all passing trains and note whetheror not they are complete and in order, and that the marker signals required at the rear end of trains by the rules are properly displayed. Should a train Without markers pass a block station, the signalman at such station is required to notify the signalmen at the next block in each direction, and must not report that a train is clear of the block nor unlock the next block in the rear unless he has ascertained by observing the train markers that the train is complete.

At an unattended block station where signals are manually controlled from a distant ofilce by means of a, communication or remote control system, suitable train detecting apparatus, usually of the type involving a detector track circuit, may be employed as a means to set the associated signals at stop and also to cause an indication to be transmitted over the communication system to the office to indicate the presence of a train, as is well known. When a train passes the train detecting apparatus, for example, the remote control system may be conditioned to OS the train, that is, to transmit an indication reporting its movement past the block station to the control ofiice. Neither a track circuit, nor other known train detecting apparatus, such as a. light beam, photo-cell combination, however, is efiective to detect whether or not the train is intact, hence such an OS indication might be transmitted to the ofiice when only a portion of a train passes the detector apparat s- An Operator relying upon the OS indication received from a block signal location and assuming that a complete train has passed that point, might therefore signal other traffic through the block, whereas in fact a portion of the first train may be in the block and thus constitute a hazard to the other trafiic.

In view of the above-mentioned and other important considerations, it is an object of my invention to provide novel and improved. means for detecting and reporting the passage of complete and intact trains.

A further object is to provide novel and improved means adapted for use with centralized traflic control systems, for reporting or OSing trains at a central office when and only when the block signal locations are passed by complete trains.

An additional object is to provide wayside apparatus cooperating with apparatus carried on or near the rear of a train for indicating that the train is complete and intact when it passes a given point on the stretch of track.

A further object is to provide a system of the above described class incorporating train-carried apparatus requiring a positive, manual operation of a trainman to condition the train-carried apparatus to cooperate with the wayside means.

The above-mentioned and other important objects and characteristic features of my invention which will become readily apparent from the following description, are attained in accordance with my invention by utilizing train detectin apparatus, such as a track circuit, in cooperation with means in the trackway adapted to be influence by a device attachable to or near the rear of a train and conditioned in response to a positive manual operation by a trainman, to govern suitable apparatus responsive to the passage of a train and to the influence on the trackway means of the train-carried device, and by utilizing such apparatus to condition means to transmit suitable indications to the control ofiice.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters I and la designate th track rails of a stretch of track such as a manual block, which usually is not provided with continuous track circuits. Positioned at spaced points along the track are signals similar to signal IR which, as shown, governs trafiic from left to right through the stretch. Signal IR is adapted to be controlled from a remote point in any suitable manner, as

by a communication or centralized trafiic control system of the type shown in the Lewis Patent 2,197,130 granted on April 16, 1940, for Remote control apparatus, or as represented, by a remote control system of the unit type involving a control wire extending from a control lever SL at a control station to the location of the signal. The signal 1ever SL has a normal position N and a reverse position R and is provided at the station for conditioning signal IR to display a stop indication when lever SL is in its normal position and to display a permissive or a proceed indication when lever SL is in its reverse position.

A short stretch of track adjacent the location of signal IR is provided with suitable train detecting apparatus which may, for example, comprise a track circuit provided for a track section a-b formed by dividing the rails by means of the usual insulated joints 2. Section a-b may be of any convenient length preferably longerthan the distance between the trucks of any vehicle traveling thereover, and may for example have a length of the order of 60 feet.

Ihe track circuit of section ab comprises a suitable source of current, such as a battery 3,

connected to a track relay TS overthe rails of the. section and a front contact 8 of relay TS. To eilectuate this arrangement, either battery 3 or relay TS may be permanently connected across the rails of the section, while the other is norinally connected to the rails when front contact 8 of relay TS is closed. In the particular arrangement shown, battery 3 is permanently connected across the track rails, and relay TS is connected in a circuit including its front contact 8 across the rails l and la, so that relay TS is, therefore, normally energized when section a-b is unoccupied, over a track circuit arranged on the stick circuit principle.

The train detecting or track circuit apparatus hereinbefore mentioned is supplemented by addi tional apparatus involving a wayside detector or receiver which cooperates with a train-carried transmitting device arranged to govern suitable control means operable from a normal to an operated position only in response to the passage over the wayside receiver of a vehicle carrying the train-carried transmitting device. These cooperating wayside and train-carried means may be 01 any suitable type wherein the train-carried means is a source of control influences and the wayside means is a receiver responsive to and affected by such, control influences. For example, the train-carried device may bea horn, bell or Whistle arranged to provide an audible signal for affecting a receiver, such as a microphone, in the, trackway; the train-carried device may comprise a dependent member secured to a vehicle and arranged to engage a ramp or contactor in the wayside; or as, shown the train-carried device,

may be of the electromagnetic type comprising a winding 5 mounted on a core 1 and carried on a vehicle in such manner as to come into inductive relationship with a wayside receiver located on the ties or inthe roadbed.

In accordance with my presentinvention, it is contemplated to require a. positive manual operation by a trainman to condition the traincarried device to cooperate with the wayside receiver. The member of the train crew assigned, to the control of the train-carried device is required to assume the responsibility of ascertaining that the train is intact, and is authorized to condition the train-carried apparatus for cooperation with the wayside receiver only when the train is complete. The electromagnet Bis, therefore, normally deenergized and isenergized only when a tro member, such a a push. button. E, is d; down r. act ated. by, the. ss ned.

memb of; h ain; new Wheoinush: button; it?

PB is held down, its contact 4 is closed and magnet winding 6 becomes energized over a circuit including contact 4 of push button PB and a suitable source of unidirectional energy, such as a battery not shown but having its opposite terminals designated by the reference characters B and C.

This train-carried apparatus may be carried on the last vehicle of the train, in which event the wayside receiver is preferably positioned in the track way within the limits of the cooperating track circuit. However, it is often expedient to make up trains, such as local freights, with one or several cars following a caboose, and in such case in order to provide convenient access by the train crew to the controlling member PB it may be necessary to locate the magnet and push button on the caboose, and require the push button to be actuated by the trainman after he has ascertained that the caboose and the rear of the train have cleared the limits of the track circuit. To take care of such eventualities, the wayside receiver may be, positioned a known distance beyond the signal, as at 11, thus insuring that when the caboose and its magnet are traveling over the receiver, the rear of the train will have cleared the limits of the track circuit. As represented in the drawing, a vehicle V illustrated in dotted lines is represented as carrying the train-carried apparatus hereinbefore described.

The wayside apparatus which cooperates with the train-carried apparatus referred to, must be of a design suitable to receive and translate iniiuences from the train-carried device. As here shown it comprises a receiver or inductor & having a winding disposed on a magnetizable core H3. The core and winding are preferably completely enclosed in a non-magnetic casing for mechanical protection and the entire device is secured to the track ties with the core of the receiver parallel to the rails and disposed, either between the rails or along side either rail, in a position for inductive relationship with the train carried magnetic device. As pointed out, the receiver may be disposed in the trackway within the limits of section ct-b, or as shown, may be disposed in advance of the section as at d. The winding of inductor 9 is connected to a contro device, which may, for example, be a relay S having its winding connected through a rectifier I! and a normally closed contact i2 of a restoring push button K, to the winding of inductor 9. When push button K is. actuated, and its back contact i2 is closed, an obvious auxiliary circuit is provided for relay S for at times energizing that relay to restore the associated track circuit apparatus to its normally energized condition, as will be made clear presently. Relay S when energized closes front contact M to complete an obvious pick-up circuit for relay TS, whereby after the train clears the section, relay TS is restored to its normal position in a manner to be pointed out hereinafter.

The relays TS and S cooperate in controlling the wayside signal IR, and also control means for providing an OS indication. at the remote con trol station. As. shown, signal ER may be cleared over a circuit extending from terminal B through lever SL in its reverse position, back contact it of relay S, front contact l6 of relay TS, andrsignallR to terminal C. Whenever lever SL is in.

its normal position, orback contact :5 of relay S is open, or front contact It of relay TS is open, signal IR,- is deenergizedandjs caused to display its stop aspect. It follows, therefore, that in the event signal IR is conditioned to display its clear aspect, signal IR is put to stop automatically by the passage of the train causing the release of relayTS and the opening of the energizing circuit of signal IR. The means for providing an indication reporting the movement of the train past the block station to tliecontrol ofiice, as shown, comprises a circuit extending from terminal B through front contact I! of relay TS, back contact ll! of relay S and the filament of lamp 20 at the control station to terminal C.

In the normal condition of the apparatus, relay TS is energized over a circuit including its own front contact 8, relay S is deenergized, signal IR displays stop, indicator 2!] at the remote station is energized over its previously traced circuit to indicate that track section ab is in its normal condition, and an auxiliary indicator 22 also is energized over an obvious circuit including front contact 2| of relay TS, for a purpose to be made clear presently.

Signal IR may be cleared from the remote station by operating lever SL to its reverse position to close the previously traced circuit of si nal IR. The signal continues to display its clear aspect until a train occupies section ct-b, whereupon relay TS is shuntedand opens its front contact [6 to deenergize signal IR, and its front contact 11 to deenergize indicator 2!) to indicate that the track circuit is occupied. In addition, auxiliary indicator 22 also is deenergized.

This condition of the apparatus is maintained until the train-carried magnet approaches the vicinity of the wayside receiver, and the assigned member of the train crew, after having first ascertained that the train is complete, depresses push button PB to energize the'train-carried magnet. The passage of the energized magnet over the receiver causes the induction in the Wayside receiver of an electromotive force which is applied through rectifier l l to relay S to cause that relay to pick up. When relay S picks up, its front contact 14 closes to complete an obvious circuit connecting relay TS across the track rails I and I a, whereupon relay TS picks up, after the train clears section a-b, to close its front contact 8 and complete its previously traced normal track circuit. Front contact 2| of relay TS also closes to cause indicator 22 positioned along the wayside to become illuminated to indicate that the track circuit apparatus of section a/b is restored to its normal condition. Thereby indicating to the train crew that the train-carried apparatus functioned properly to restore the track circuit to its normal position. Push button PB on the train may now be released to deenergize the traincarried magnet.

With the track circuit apparatus of section a-b in its normal condition, indicator 23 at the remote station becomes energized over its previously traced circuit, thereby providing an indication that the rear of the train has passed the signal location.

In the event that relay TS is released and is not caused to be restored to its normal condition by the passage of the train-carried magnet over the wayside receiver, the track circuit apparatus may be restored to its normal condition by actuating push button K to close the previously mentioned auxiliary circuit for relay S. When push button K is actuated and back contact l2 closes, relay S picks up to close its front contact I4 and thereby provide the pick-up circuit for relay TS, whereupon relay TS picks up to close its front contact 8 and restore the track circuit apparatus to its normal condition.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that apparatus embodying my invention provides means for indicating at an o ifice that a complete and intact train has passed a remote unattended point on the track. Should a train break in two and only the forward portion pass the wayside apparatus controlling the OS apparatus at the oiiice, the wayside apparatus functions to indicate the passage of an incomplete train by failing to restore to its normal condition, thus preventing the display at the office of the indication relating to the normal condition of the wayside apparatus. In addition, should a complete train pass the wayside apparatus, a positive manual act by the trainman, charged with the duty of ascertaining whether the train is complete, is required to condition the train-carried apparatus to cooperate with the wayside apparatus. A restoration of the wayside apparatus after a train has passed is, therefore, a positive indication not only that the train is complete but also that the train crew is properly performing its duties.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of train detecting and reporting apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a stretch of railway track including an insulated track section, a normally energized track circuit including a source of current, the rails of said section and the winding and a front contact of a track relay, a signal for governing traffic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, an inductor located in the trackway adjoining said track section, a portable rear end marker comprising a magnet adapted to be mounted on the rear end of a train to indicate the completeness thereof and in a position to come into inductive relation with said inductor when the complete train passes through said track section, a restoring relay adapted to be inductively operated when the train-carried magnet comes into inductive relation with said inductor, and a circuit including a front contact of said restoring relay for picking up said track relay when the train has passed out of said track section.

2. In a system for detecting the passage of complete trains past a given location on a stretch of railway track, the combination with an insulated section of track at said given location provided with a normally closed circuit track circuit including a source of current connected with the winding of the track relay of said track circuit over the rails of said section and a front contact of said track relay, a signal for governing traffic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, a train to travel said stretch of track, means comprising a source of control influences on the rear of said train to indicate the completeness thereof, means disposed in the trackway of said stretch adjacent to said given location operatively responsive to said control influences when said train-carried means is in proximity therewith, and means controlled by said trackway means for connecting the winding of said track relay with said source over said track rails to restore said normally closed circuit track circuit when a complete train passes said location.

3. In a system for detecting the passage of complete trains past a given location on a stretch of railway track, the combination with an insulated section of track at said given location provided with a normally closed circuit track circuit including a source of current connected with the winding of the track relay of said track circuit over the rails of said section and a front contact of said track relay, a signal for governing trafiic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, a train to travel said stretch of track, a magnet on the rear of said train to indicate the completeness thereof, an inductor disposed in the trackway of said stretch adjacent to said given location for inductive relation with said magnet, and means controlled by said inductor in response to the flux of said magnet when in proximity thereto for connecting the winding of said track relay with said source over said track rails to restore said normally closed circuit track circuit when a complete train passes said location.

4. In a system for detecting the passage of complete trains past a given location on a stretch of railway track, the combination with an insulated section of track at said given location provided with a normally closed circuit track circuit including a source of current connected with the winding of the track relay of said track circuit over the rails of said section and a front contact of said track relay, a signal for governing traffic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, a train to travel said stretch of track, magnetic means on the rear of said train to indicate the completeness thereof, an inductor disposed in the trackway of said stretch adjacent to said given location, means requiring a positive act by a trainman on said train for effectively inductive coupling said magnetic means with said inductor when said magnetic means is in proximity to said inductor, and means controlled by said inductor when effectively inductive coupled with said magnetic means for restoring said normally closed circuit track circuit after said train vacates said section.

5. In a system for detecting and reporting the passage of complete trains past a given location on a stretch of railway track, the combination with an insulated section of track at said given location provided with a normally closed circuit track circuit including a source of current connected with the Winding of the track relay of said track circuit over the rails of said section and a front contact of said track relay, a signal for governing traflic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, a train to travel said stretch of track, means comprising a source of control influences on the rear of said train to indicate the completeness thereof, means disposed in the trackway of said stretch adjacent to said given location operatively responsive to said control influences when said train-carried means is in proximity therewith, means controlled by said trackway means for connecting the winding of said track relay with said source over said track rails to restore said normally closed circuit track circuit when a, complete train passes said location, and means for indicating at a remote ofiice the condition of said track relay.

6. In a system for detecting and reporting the passage of complete trains past a given location on a stretch of railway track, the combination with an insulated section of track at said given location provided with a normally closed circuit track circuit including a source of current connected with the winding of the track relay of said track circuit over the rails of said section and a front contact of said track relay, a signal for governing trafiic on said stretch and controlled by said track relay, a train to travel said stretch of track, magnetic means on the rear of said train to indicate the completeness thereof, an inductor disposed in the trackway of said stretch adjacent to said given location, means requiring a positive act by a trainman on said train for effectively inductive coupling said magnetic means with said inductor when said magnetic means is in proximity to said inductor, means controlled by said inductor when efiectively inductive coupled with said magnetic means for restoring said normally closed circuit track circuit after said train vacates said section, and means for reporting at a remote point the condition of said track relay.

HERBERT A. WALLACE. 

